Crane



No. 617,05l. Patented Ian. 3, I899.

' -H. SAWYER.

CRANE.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

N0. 6|7,05l. Patented Jan. 3. I899.

H. SAWYEB.

CRANE.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1897.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Jan. 3, I899.-

H. SAWYER.

CRANE. (Applkgtion filed Sept. 7. 1.897.)

(No Model.)

I I l moamboz;

WED

HARRY SAWYER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,051, dated January 3, 1899. Application filed September 7,1897. Serial No. 650,804. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in cranes, and more particularly to that class designed to raise and lower the load and also to turn it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crane-bridge and the trolley and hoisting mechanism carried thereby; Fig. 2, a sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view of the trolley and hoisting mechanism; Fig. 4, a top plan view of the same; and Fig. 5, a diagrammatic view of the load-turning chain, outlining its course of travel.

The object of the invention is to provide means for rotating the suspended load or holding it still independent of the hoisting mechanism, so that the load may either be rotated or held still while the bottom block is at rest or being raised or lowered.

A further object is to provide means for keeping the endless chain, or the one which acts to turn the load, taut at all times, no matter what may be the position of the bottom block or the direction of its movement. The apparatus is especially designed for handling large bundles of pipes, ingots, and the like, and may be used in connection with pickling tanks, reheating furnaces, forges, and the like, where it is necessary to turn the load being handled as well as to raise and lower it.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the bridge of a crane, B the trolley mounted thereon, and O and D the hoisting-drums, motion being imparted to said drums from motor E through gears F G Ill and gears J and K, mounted upon a shaft L, receiving its rotary movement from gear I.

The hoisting-drums may be of any approved type and driven in any manner desired, the ones shown being for the purpose of illustration only. Said drums are each designed to receive two hoisting-chains M and N, which pass around sheaves or pulleys O and P, mounted upon the bottom block Q. Carried by said block in suitable hangers is a shaft R, to which are attached at suitable points two pocket-wheels S S, over which pass endless chains T T, designed to receive and carry the load. A thirdpocket-wheel U is also rigidly attached to said shaft, and around this an endless chain V is passed.

In Fig. 5 I have shown in outline the pulleys and pocket-wheels over which the said chain V passes, whereby it may be taken up and paid out as the load is lifted or lowered and may also be caused to rotate the load when so desired.

WV denotes a screw-shaft, having secured to its outer end a pinion X, which, as shown in Fig. 3, meshes with a gear Y, carried upon the end of shaft L, Fig. 4. Said screw-shaft WV is fixed in suitable bearings Z Z, which hold it in a horizontal position and preclude all endwise movement. A block orcross-head a is mounted upon said screw-shaft and designed to be traversed back and forth thereon, according as the load is being raised or lowered.

Mounted upon a cross-shaft or axle carried by block a are four sheaves I), c, d, and e, while working on a cross-pin f in rear of the bearing Z are three sheaves g, h, and 6. Below said latter sheaves is another single sheave j, while at that end of the trolley opposite the screw-shaft there is mounted a pocket-wheelk. Startingfromtheright-hand side of pocket-wheel U upward, the chain passes over sheave j, up and over sheave 6, around sheave 2', up and over sheave d, back and around pocket-wheel 70, up and around sheave 0, over sheave it, up and around sheave b, and over sheave g, down to pocket-wheel U.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 4, motion may be imparted to pocket-wheel 7c from a motor Z through shaft m, pinion at carried thereby, gear 0, shaft 19, and pinion q, meshing with a gear 1, secured upon the same shaft which carries the pocket-wheel.

If it be desired to rotate the load, all that is necessary is to set motor Z in operation, and the chain will be caused to traverse about the sheaves and impart rotary motion to pocket-wheel U and shaft R.

Assuming now that it be desired to lower the load, motion is given to shaft L and the chains M and N descend. At the same time screw-shaft IV is rotated and the cross-head or block or caused to move inward toward the shaft f, thus permitting the chain V to go down with the bottom block and to maintain its correct position upon the pocket-wheel U.

Inasmuch as each side of the chain, tracing it from the pocketed driving-wheel 7t", passes over the same number of sheaves or pulleys, there is no tendency to rotate the load as the cross-head or block is moved in. The same is true as the load is elevated and the crosshead moved in the opposite direction. The gear ratios, pitch of screw, and number of parts of chain are such that when the hoisting-motor is raising or lowering the bottom block the cross-head is moved back and forth at the proper rate of speed to take up and let down the loop of chain which passes around pocket-wheel U, keeping the chain at all times at the proper tension. It will thus be seen that the mechanism for raising and lowering the load and means for causing its rotation are entirely independent, though should circumstances so require both may be operated conjointly.

While I have shown my invention in connection with a crane in which the chains hang in two groups, I do not desire to limit myself thereto, as the invention is equally as applicable to a crane wherein the chains hang in a single group. So, too, shaft B may be dispensed With and the pocket-wheels S secured directly upon the bottom-block shaft, upon which are journaled the sheaves O and P.

In place of the pocket-wheel 7." I may employ a drum (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5) and a chain, the ends of which are wound about the drum in opposite directions and secured thereto. Rotation of the drum would of course take up one side of the chain and pay out the other, giving the same effect as is obtained with the endless chain and the pocket-wheel. This construction is not, however, so advantageous, as the load could be turned but a limited amount in either direction, While with the pocketed wheel and endless chain the rotation of the load in either direction may be continued indefinitely.

The term chain is here used to include or embrace any and all forms of flexible bands or cables suitable for hoisting the load or turning the load-supporting device, it being apparent that ropes, Wire cables, or other flexible bands may be employed, the usual construction of sheaves, drums, &c., being adopted to suit the particular kind of cable employed. The term chain is to be read with this understanding throughout the specification and claims.

Numerous modifications will suggest themselves, and I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the type of crane shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; load-turning mechanism; and means operated by the hoisting mechanism for keeping said load-turning mechanism in its proper working position as the load is raised or lowered.

2. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; load turning mechanism and means independent of said hoisting mechanism for operating the same; and means operated by the hoisting mechanism for keeping said load-turning mechanism in its proper working position as the load is raised or lowered.

3; In a crane, the combination of hoisting drums and chains; a bottom block carried thereby; aload-suspending device carried by said block; a chain for rotating said suspending device; and, a take-u p device for said chain controlled by the movement of the hoisting-dru ms, whereby said chain is maintained in its proper working position as the load is raised or lowered.

4. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; a bottom block carried thereby; a load-suspendin g device carried by said block; a chain for rotating said load-suspending device; means controlled by the hoisting mechanism for keeping said chain in its operative position as the bottom block is raised or lowered; and means for traversing said chain independent of the hoisting mechanism.

5. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; a load suspending device; a chain for rotating said device; means for traversing said chain; and independentmeans controlled by the hoisting mechanism for taking up and paying out said chain Without rotating said load-suspending device.

6. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; a load suspending device; a chain for rotating said device; means for traversing said chain; a reciprocating block about which the chain passes; and means Working in unison with the hoisting mechanism for moving said block back and forth and maintaining the endless chain in its correct Working position without rotating said loadsuspending device.

7. In a crane, the combination of a trolley; hoisting mechanism carried thereby; a bottom block and chains connecting said block with the hoisting mechanism; a shaft carried by the bottom block; endless chains sus pended by pocket-wheels carried by said shaft; a chain passing around said shaft and designed to impart motion thereto; means operated by the hoisting mechanism for keeping said chain in its proper Working position as the load is raised and lowered; and means for imparting motion to said chain for turn ing the shaft and imparting a rotary motion to the load.

8. In a crane, the combination of a trolley and suitable hoisting drums and chains carried thereby, a bottom block suspended from said chains; a shaft suspended from said bottom block; means for sustaining the load carried by said shaft; a chain passing around said shaft and up to the trolley, said chain passing about sh eaves mounted upon a crosshead or block; and means for imparting motion to said block to take up and let down said chain, the said means being controlled and working in unison with the hoisting mechanism.

9. In a crane, the combination of a trolley and suitable hoisting mechanism carried thereby; an endless chain for imparting rotary motion to the load carried by said hoistingmechanism; a cross-head or block mounted within the trolley; a screw-shaft passing through said block and designed to receive motion from the hoistingmechanism; sheaves carried by the block; a second series of sheaves placed in the trolley over the load; and a pocket-wheel placed at the opposite end of the trolley to impart motion to the chain, said chain passing around the sheaves and pocket-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a crane, the combination of a trolley and suitable hoisting mechanism carried thereby; a load-suspending device; a crosshead; a screw-shaft mounted in the trolley upon which said cross-head is mounted; means for imparting motion to said screw-shaft from the hoisting mechanism; sheaves b, c, d and 6 carried by said cross-head; pocket-wheel 7i sheaves g, h, i and j mounted in the trolley intermediate said cross-head and pocketwheel 79; and an endless chain passing about the sheaves and pocket-wheel down to and around the load-suspending device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination of a trolley and suitable hoisting mechanism carried thereby; a load-suspending device; a screw-shaft mounted in the trolley and designed to receive motion from the hoisting mechanism; a cross head mounted upon said screw-shaft; a series of sheaves carried thereby; a pocketwheel mounted at the opposite end of the trolley; a second series of sheaves mounted at a point intermediate said first series and the pocket-wheel 7c; and an endless chain passing about said sheaves, pocket-wheel, and load-suspending device, the sheaves and pocket-Wheel being so arranged with relation to each other that the cross-head or block may be traversed back and forth by the screw, and the load-suspending device elevated or lowered without imparting a rotary motion thereto.

12. In a crane, the combination of hoisting mechanism; a loadsuspending device; a chain or cable for rotating said load-suspend in g device having two vertical stretches forming a single loop; and means controlled by the hoisting mechanism for simultaneously and equally taking up or paying out said stretches at the same rate at which the load is raised or lowered.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY SAWVYER.

lVi tnesses:

O'rro ALBERT, CARL U. MALINi 

